Readers sound off on police discrimination, NYCHA and night owls

By Voice of the People

|NEW YORK DAILY NEWS|

Apr 14, 2018 | 3:00 AM

Stop the stops (Joe Marino/for New York Daily News)

Police stops still discriminate

Long Island City: The April 12 editorial "What mass incarceration?" hails a steep decline in the number of criminal court cases in the five boroughs and a significant drop in the combined annual number of arrests, summonses and stop, question and frisk incidents. But you ignore the stark racial disparities that continue to exist in police actions despite the dramatic reductions in overall numbers.

It's true that since 2011, after a tremendous advocacy effort, the city put in place numerous reforms regarding stop-and-frisk policy and broken-windows policing. Yet, in 2017, New Yorkers were stopped by the police 10,861 times, and still 90% of the people stopped were black or Latino. Moreover, 67%, or 7,301 people of the total stopped, were innocent of any wrongdoing. Current policies have reduced the total number of people impacted — but not the disproportionality at which communities of color are impacted.

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If we refuse to acknowledge the racial injustice at the core of how we apply our laws, then we will continue to see this targeted effort to single out and destroy communities of color. Khalil A. Cumberbatch associate vice president of policy , the Fortune Society

Bipartisan hate

Lansdowne, Pa.: Re the Daily News' April 9 front page ("Trump called him a 'crazy Jew' "): This tit-for-tat is becoming absurd. It reminds me of what Hillary Clinton called Paul Fray, whom she blamed for an election loss Bill suffered in Arkansas. That's a lot worse than The News' front-page quote. I believe someone is paying Stormy Daniels a lot more than $130,000 for her one session. She should be content with that, not trying to invalidate the contract for her silence. Georgia Makiver

As it should be

Manhattan: Neither students, nor Trump, nor Congress, nor any politician can stop mass school shootings, cancer, or anything else in life. It is called fatalism. Everything is already written to happen, predetermined. Some people refer to this concept as the Book of Life. Yvonne Crequé

Peace, please

Manhattan: I do hope that President Trump will not attack Syria. Fighting is not the only answer, and attacking Syria may lead to more attacks on U.S. soil, and attacks worldwide. Just like we teach children to use their words, and that fighting is not the answer, Trump should do the same. I hope that Trump can resolve this situation using peace instead. We need more peace in the world, not guns or violence. Amy Rosenfeld

Reliable source

Brooklyn: To Voicer Jean Hayes: Pope Francis did not make a statement that there is no hell. He gave an interview to a 93-year-old Italian journalist, Eugenio Scalfari, who admits he does not take notes or record conversations. Scalfari has misquoted the Pope before, and then the Holy See has to report that what was printed was not said by the Pope. Of course there is a hell, and best of all a heaven to be with God for eternity! Connie Leist

Get outta here

Staten Island: Re "Never forget or forgive" (editorial) and "German duplicity on Nazi criminals" (Op-Ed) on April 12: Jakiw Palij was a member of the SS and a guard at a concentration camp. The U.S. tried to deport him to certain countries, but they refused to take him. May I suggest that he be deported to Israel where he would get a fair trial? I suggested this to the office of Assembly member Dov Hikind several weeks ago, and I was told to mind my own business. This is my business. I am a human being. Stephen Klein

Some immigrants welcome

Bronx: This country's history is built on immigration. All are welcome but must come here legally. To do otherwise is not fair to those who follow the law. The media conveniently forgets to mention "legal" or "illegal" when talking about immigrants. Politicians are concerned with the rising costs of health care and education. We need to care for our U.S. disabled, children and seniors. We must show our country, flag and leaders respect. Rosemary Lillis

Tell the truth

Oakland, N.J.: Please rank these three propaganda minsters, in order of being the scum of the Earth: Joseph Goebbels, Sean Hannity, Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Bob Shwalb

Past not prologue

Brooklyn: Re "Agony in butcher's wake" (April 12): I can't understand why the Daily News would note this young lady's past of being involved with prostitution. Have some respect for her family. Her naked dismembered torso was found in a park. Let's focus on finding the killer, not on her criminal past. Thank you Leonard Goodman

What the flag says

Glendale: Our brave servicemen and women have died in defense of the American flag. But leftist political brats like Voicer Rabbi Yashafat Drake find it appropriate to turn phrases about like: "The flag does not represent democracy in the least; it is merely an illusion of hope." I'll wager that by sharp contrast, Israeli fighter pilots surely think their Top Gun jets are pretty neat tangibles for something that came from a mere "illusion of hope." Peter Richards

Out of gas on lead

Ridgewood, N.J.: Re "Bill vows new look at lead in NYCHA" (April 13): NYCHA lacks leadership and manpower to conduct all this inspecting. All lack funding. Good luck. Peter J. Peirano

Young heroes

Brooklyn: Re last month's March for Our Lives: I want to thank our new age heroes for giving renewed hope for the future to this cynical old man. You are truly the ones who will make America great again. Bless you all. Marty Schatzman

Church can take it

Seaford, L.I.: So Timothy Cardinal Dolan feels old abuse cases will be toxic to the church ("Dolan vs. victims," March 21). Ever hear of the adage "Do the crime, do the time"? The only difference here is they hid the abusers and now it's time to pay for their lack of humanity. They let this abuse continue for years and all he is worried about is the pain the Catholic Church will suffer. God would be appalled at their behavior in handling these abuse cases. I hope the Child Victims Act passes and more victims can come forward and get the peace they need. Frances Harwood

The police purge

Staten Island: Ventriloquist Jeff Dunham has added a new dummy to his collection. This one's name is Commissioner Jimmy O'Neill, only the part of Dunham is being played by Mayor de Blasio. Being retired from the NYPD for 14 years, I personally knew some of the chiefs who were forced to retire in January, namely Chief Joe Fox. He was a well-respected man of the community and of the entire command that served under him for years in Brooklyn South. Enjoy your retirement, Joe. You don't need that circus anymore. Richard Buttermark

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Looking for Quinn

Manahawkin, N.J.: What's all the commotion about the Mighty Quinn? Every day I go through my paper looking for the column and can't find it. I live in South Jersey (cheaper taxes), and I've always known the paper I get is different from the NYC version. Guess I'll have to make the trip to the big city to buy a paper up there and read the Mighty Quinn. Joan Benevenia

Hardly a Titan

Pittsburgh: I watched in disbelief that anyone would hire this guy ("Mike Vrabel unqualified to be Titans coach," Jan. 29). Your article captures the shear lunacy of why. The got-it factor: "Commanding presence in front of players." I have seen this in football and the workplace. You get an unqualified person who thinks he/she can do something just because he/she thinks they can. Hey, I think I can be a head coach. I would fail. No experience, and his very short record in Houston is downright scary. It's like "American Idol." It came back too soon and we all knew it would fail, except the producers of the show and ABC. I don't want Vrabel to fail but the odds are he will, and big. But watch, he is an excuse artist and it will be everyone's fault but his. Cliff Wilkins

Scratch Cat

West Babylon, L.I.: I won't be watching "Talk Stoop" anymore because Cat Greenleaf is "Talk Stoop." Who cares if some nobody DJ wants to further her career. Gary J. Aaronberg